It’s a peculiar thing for me to be so keen to get to a Mass, whilst I really value the Eucharist I never ever thought I would be one to have pushed myself so hard, just to get to a church service. This walk to Santiago was more than a walk I came to do a pilgrimage and to attend the pilgrims mass at the end of the walk did seem like an important thing for me - even if I knew I would not understand much of it. With this in mind as 6.15 I was fiddling around tr...

Today we left Hotel Suiza at 8am. Martin was very keen to make sure we had all crossed the road safely before he let us set off at our own pace. For a while I chatted with the Sangria group, about this blog and whether I needed dot pay them commission for the mention. Then as usual we reached a hill and I upped my pace. As the hill levelled out I kept expecting them to catch me as my pace wasn’t that great - the blister on my little toe was really painful a...

Another 9am start from the hotel in Melide. We strolled up the hill into the town, pausing for a photo opportunity of the cross with Jesus sitting down. I’m wondering how that can be possible but I guess it shows the humanity of Jesus, even if realistically he would have been unlikely to die on the cross sitting down. I’d seen images of pilgrims walking though modern looking cities looking out of place with all the gear for a hike but I never thought I wou...

What I hadn’t said at the end of yesterday’s long walk was that I had gained blister in a very odd place. Despite having invested in expensive 1000mile socks that are guaranteed no blisters for 1000 miles I have one on the tip of my big toe. I put it down to my boot not being tightly enough laced for the first part of the day. This morning I had championed a later start for a shorter days walking so we left the log cabins at 9am. The town of Palas de Rei ...

This day is the longest scheduled days walking of 25km but surprisingly, although the early start was a challenge - our guide does like starting to walk at 8am - I was feeling pretty good. Back down to near where we crossed the river the day before and then up and long long path. I had picked up chatting with one of our group called Mandy and she and I just kept going, chatting all the way. I’ve realised I like to get my head down on the hills and set a pace...